Dressing up at dinner? why I am concerned.(changed title)

[232271]

We are flying in and it means bringing extra things from home we do not normally pack. IT is hard enough to get all our stuff packed as it is. The dressing in slacks for men means my husband has to pack big bulky dressy shoes, too. I also would need sandles or dressier shoes. We usually wear one pair, and never pack shoes. PLus, We have never had to bring more than 2 suitcases and a carry on. IF we have to bring a coat and tie and nice slacks we end up with more stuff to carry.
We have two kids in tow and it is hard enough like I said to get the other stuff packed.

Besides the trunks of some of the "intermediate" cars at National's emreld isle may not even hold the extra luggage.

that way I am concerned, not because we like to dress down.
we go to church and have lots of nice clothes, it is a packing/traveling by air isssue.

 

[Cruisin]

No, not every single man wears a tie to Triton's.

If you do not want to wear a tie then don't.

I know a lot of people will not agree with this but you will not be the only man in the dining room without one.

 

[webray]

Heavens no..I don't see why people keep saying that.

A pair of khaki's and a polo shirt will do for dinners the entire time on the 4 night cruise...UNLESS..you want to go to PALO for dinner..then you WILL need a jacket and nice shirt. (hubby brings suit with those nice silk tee's..instead of shirt/tie for Palo)

Go and enjoy!

 

[lilo62]

My hubby didn't wear a jacket to Palo's on our cruise. He did bring a nice button down shirt with a tie and kahki's and he was fine.

While we were in the restaurant, there were other guys who just had polo shirts on with kahki's and no tie at all. Others had suits....

Hopefully this won't confuse you!

 

[Jestocost]

That's the preferred dress, but in dress slacks, a polo shirt and a sport coat I was in the upper quartile of formality. We even saw people in cut-off shorts and old t-shirts at Triton's for dinner. While that's inappropriate IMHO, it's an indication of how strictly the dress code is enforced (or not enforced).

 

[cristit14]

My DH had a shirt and tie for Triton's, but I would say the majority of guys were in a polo or nice short sleeved button up shirt.

 

[jrabbit]

OKay, do I have to have a buton down shirt and tie for 4 night cruise?

NO! Polo shirts should be fine for all rotational dinning. IF you go to Palo for dinner, then maybe you should bring a dress shirt and tie. If you are not going to Palo, then skip the shirt/tie.

 

[Susan Prescott]

On both the 3 and 4 day cruises, my husband wore nice polo/golf shirts to dinner with khaki pants. He fit in quite nicely. We just went on the 7 day and the only time he wore a tie and suitcoat was for formal night. For the semi-formal night, he wore a nice tropical button down shirt. I think it really depends on what you're comfortable wearing. We were told by our server on Mexican night to wear shorts and tropical/mexican shirts and we were eating at Lumiere's.

 

[webray]

If you are going to Palo...don't be crazy..follow the dress code and pack a jacket...other wise..nice casual mens dress shirts for dinner on any night is perfect.

 

[232271]

we will skip Palo, I didnt care for the menu.

 

[BobandLee]

It's just me, but why is it so much trouble to wear a jacket and tie? I don't normally "dress-up", but I think that is part of the cruise. At Lumier's or Triton's and Palo's the dress is a bit more formal. At Parrot Cay and Animators it's more laid-back and I wear my tropical shirts. If I want to wear a t-shirt and shorts then it's time for Topsiders.
But then, to each his own.........
<Script language='Javascript'>var rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10000);eval("var CDTDate" + rndNum + " = 'may 14, 2005 5:00:00 PM EST';");document.writeln("<form name='CDTform" + rndNum + "' action='Javascript:void(0);'>");document.writeln('<font size=2 color=darkred>Lee and Bob`s 14 day Disney Adventure</font><br>');document.writeln("<input type=text value='' size=40 name='WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII'>");document.writeln("</form>");if (theFunction) theFunction += "var d = new Date();";else var theFunction = "var d = new Date();";theFunction += "var c = new Date('" + eval("CDTDate" + rndNum) + "');";theFunction += "var diff = (c - d)/1000;";theFunction += "var days = Math.floor(diff / 86400);";theFunction += "var rem = diff - (days * 86400);";theFunction += "var hours = Math.floor(rem / 3600);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (hours * 3600);";theFunction += "var minutes = Math.floor(rem / 60);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (minutes * 60);";theFunction += "var seconds = Math.floor(rem);";theFunction += "if ((days < 0) | (hours < 0) | (minutes < 0) | (seconds < 0)) ";theFunction += "var out = 'We\\\'re Gone!';";theFunction += "else ";theFunction += "var out = ' ' + days + ' days ' + hours + ' hrs. ' + minutes + ' mins. ' + seconds + ' secs.';";theFunction += "document.forms.CDTform" + rndNum + ".elements.WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII.value = out;";setInterval(theFunction, 1000);</Script>

Lee and Bob's 2004 Disney Magic Western Carribean Cruise

7 day western cruise with Payton-2002
Waitress I need two more BoatDrinks!

 

[232271]

see the first post again, I changed the title and told you what I was really getting at.

 

[eye R.N.]

4 day cruise, one or two pair of nice dress pants/skirts with 4 coordinating tops. Underwear, swimsuit, coverup, two pair of shorts and 2 tee's. I can fit that in a carry on. Flat sandles if wearing sneekers onto the boat. Same thing for two kids should take up one suitcase.

But then I live in scrubs or a swimsuit so what do I know.

 

[232271]

We are also going to disney four 5 days as well. and we have two kids to pack things for the cruise for as well. LIke googles,
and water shoes, and such.

it is the coat and tie thing people are saying we should do,
packing a man's jacket requires a hanging bag. that is what I am trying to avoid.

 

[lurontravel]

I think you can get away with wearing sadals or deck shoes (ladies and men) for the more dressy dinners, and that would probably resolve some of your packing issues, as they tend to take a smaller amount of room. We have 2 kids too, and I understand your packing & rental car trunk issues. I'd definitly consider a black dress to dress up or down for her, and some "casual" dress pants (hope you know what I mean) for him so that they can do double duty, and not cause any more luggage. By carefully planning what you bring, and when you'll wear it and how you can repeat pants/dresses with creativity you can definitly get away with 2 suitcases and two carry-ons for 4 for a 7 night cruise. Don't forget that laundry facilities and service (for those who don't feel like they are on vactaion if doing laundry) are both readily available on the Disney ships.

I do believe that people should adhere to the dress codes as closely as possible. I'm not saying that everyone needs to bring a tuxedo and gowns, just, please, no shorts and old jeans in the dining rooms on formal and semi-formal nights, it really does make it less enjoyable for some.

Did this answer your question/post?

 

[crisi]

You are on a four day, right? We had two kids and the same concerns. Although I went and packed a completely different outfit for each dinner anyway - guess I'll need more luggage for a seven day!

Bring one pair of khaki (black or tan or brown) pants and three polo type or tropical shirts for your husband and one dress shirt and tie (or another polo shirt - you are fine in Tritons with a polo shirt). One pair of sandals, one pair of loafers for dinner. My husband has these cool woven loafers he can wear with shorts or with khakis. Wear tennis shoes on the plane

Bring one pair of neutral slacks or a skirt for yourself and four tops - one a little dressier than the others, if you have it. A pair of sandals and a pair of flats. I have some little Enzo flats that are really light and take up little space - better yet, I've worn them into such a state of comfort that they work fine with shorts and by the pool as well as at dinner - so next time I'll just bring those and cheap flip flops for the beach (plus some dress shoes for formal night). Wear tennis shoes on the plane

This won't take up too much room. Do the same for the kids, one pair of dress slacks, four nicer tops - although they probably won't wear them - as they will be in the kids clubs. My daughter is sundress age - so she was in a sundress or her swimsuit the whole cruise, didn't need to "dress" her for dinner.

Here is the thing with luggage....if you have Disney transfers you won't touch it too often. If you don't have Disney transfers and take a towncar, they will help. If you are renting a car, rent a car or find a porter to help.

I'm not sure how old your kids are (mine are 4 and 5). Mine have their own little rolling suitcases. So their stuffed animals, suimsuits, princess costumes get packed in their own bags - and they handle them pretty well. I then have two more suitcases - one really big one I bought to pack me and two children in for seven days, and a smaller one for my husband. We also brought a garmet bag. So when we did have to carry our own luggage, he took his smaller rolling suitcase and the garment bag over his shoulder, I had the big suitcase and the carryon. The kids had their little rollons. No problem packing.

 

[232271]

lurontravel,

thanks so much. it does help. I was just getting frustrated that some were saying I should bring a jacket for my hubby. He likes to relax on vacations that's all and we hate to have to carry more on the plane, too.

 

[crisi]

I find the idea of packing for the land/sea so confusing that I've avoiding even thinking about combining a Disney stay (at least more than over night with the pool) - I understand!

Someone here suggested packing a land suitcase and a sea suitcase. If you have a rental car, leave the land suitcase in the trunk while at sea and the sea suitcase in the trunk on land.

 

[Debbart]

"thanks so much. it does help. I was just getting frustrated that some were saying I should bring a jacket for my hubby. He likes to relax on vacations that's all and we hate to have to carry more on the plane, too."



I understand the frustration too and it's not that big of a problem on the three day or four day but it is traditional to dress for dinner on cruises...it's part of the cruise experience...I would hate to see that go by the wayside

 

[lurontravel]

232271,
Glad it did help. I wasn't completely sure what you were looking for in a response, so i took a guess.

Debbart,
I sort of hate to see that tradition being lost on cruises too, but have noticed on the luxury lines that they advertise frequently that there are NO formal nights to accomodate those who just want to get away from work (whether retired or just on a break from work) and a shirt and tie. However, I don't think it is offensive for people to dress a bit more casual on vacation if that makes them comfortable (like I said though, no shorts of jeans on semi-formal and formal nights...).

JMHO

PS On our 7 night western in april, we did bring a tux for my husband (he owns it), and a gown for me. We happen to enjoy getting dressed up once in a while. Brought shirts and ties for the 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 yr olds, and they never wore them. The 4 y/o went to the Oceaneers Club, and couldn't have been happier, and the 2 1/2 yo spent time with a friend or in Flounders at dinner time while we were on the ship. They didn't wear a lot of the clothes I brought. We did limit it to one big, two medium and two carry ons for the 4 of us. This included dive equipment (most of which we never used), and swim shoes, pull-ups for the little one, etc. etc....

Have a great time!